Tiger Woods out for six months after winning US Open with broken leg

TIGER WOODS will miss the rest of this season after revealing he won the US Open with a broken leg AND cruciate ligament damage.

TIGER WOODS will miss the rest of this season after revealing he won the US Open with a broken leg AND cruciate ligament damage.

The American golfing superstar is OUT of next month's Open at Birkdale and September's Ryder Cup clash in Kentucky after limping his way to glory in San Diego.

Woods confirmed yesterday he needed more surgery on his crocked left knee and revealed he collected his 14th Major at Torrey Pines on Monday while suffering from a double stress fracture of his left tibia.

The world No.1's astonishing play-off victory over Rocco Mediate now must rank as one of the sport's greatest triumphs.

He teed up in the season's second Major knowing he needed reconstructive surgery on the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and treatment for a stress fracture of the tibia in the same leg.

Woods - who was in obvious agony as he battled to victory - said: "I know much was made of my knee throughout the last week and it was important to me that I disclose my condition at an appropriate time.

"I wanted to be very respectful of the USGA and their incredibly hard work and make sure the focus was on the US Open.

"Now it is clear the right thing to do is to listen to my doctors, follow through with this surgery and focus my attention on rehabilitating my knee.

"While I am disappointed to have to miss the remainder of the season I have to do the right thing for my long-term health and look forward to returning to competitive golf when my doctors agree that my knee is sufficiently healthy.

"My doctors assure me with the proper rehabilitation and training the knee will be strong and there will be no long-term effects."

Woods first hurt his knee in August last year while jogging but has won nine titles from 12 tournaments since then, a run that included twoMajors which took him to four short of Jack Nicklaus' record of 18.

He had cut back his schedule and had surgery after the Masters in April when he finished second.

He has won five of the seven tournaments entered in 2008, including Monday's triumph.

Woods said: "My rehabilitation after surgery was designed with the goal of returning to play at the Memorial (the tournament before the US Open).

"But the stress fractures that were discovered just prior to the tournament prevented me from participating and had a huge impact on the timing of my return.

"But I was determined to do everything and anything in my power to play in the US Open at Torrey Pines, which is close to where I grew up and which holds many special memories for me.

"Although I will miss the rest of the 2008 season, I'm thrilled with the fact that last week was such a special tournament.

"I would like to thank my fans and partners for their continual support."

Woods revealed on his own website that he would try to fulfil his sponsor and charitable commitments over the next five to six months.

Peter Dawson, the chief executive of the R&A sympathised with Woods' plight and insisted The Open would be just as exciting without him. He said: "Tiger is an enormous attraction, there's no denying that.

"But The Open Championship has had many exciting finishes which Tiger has not been part of and I'm sure there'll be more.

"It's very sad. We're sorry he's succumbed to the injury and he won't be at the Open.

"We hope he has the speediest possible recovery. We understand the most important thing is he has to get his health right first."

This week saw Woods mark his 500th week as the world's top-ranked player.

Now the career of the greatest golfer of all time has been put on hold for at least six months.